If I learned only one thing after writing one hundred posts, it’s the value of doing the work. You can aim for good enough or perfect- just don’t let either consume you. Don’t let your mind obsess over improving the past. Saw flaws in your past work? Good! That means you’re improving. Don’t cringe, feeling defeated. Keep practicing! The tools you’ll build or discover along the way, like these toys, will develop your future work:

I’m sore. I’d rather be in bed. I’ll get around to it later. No! In this week’s brainstorming update to TheStory, let’s consider the motivations of Trishna (seated, below) and John. Who’ll stop them? What compels John to fight for what he believes in through the couple’s adversities? Where do they break? When do they give up? Why does Trishna struggle through her limited mobility to stand so often? How often do they fight?

My first entry to the Better Zombie catalog eight months ago was a proto “Thrifting Adventures” post about a thrift shop I like and some stuff I got there. I made this review and forgot about it. As I’ve been clearing out my backlog, upped my lightbox game, and strengthened my reviewing skills, I figure I’ll add to that practice and get this review of the Sub Pop Video Network Program 1 tape in the can.

Some small part of me didn’t want to write this. That part that doesn’t like stirring up trouble. I’ve thought about this DevilsHuntMeDown show during the week from different perspectives, and concluded that I should write about the majority good even if it means I have to cover the bad. In over five years of going to shows, this was the first time I’ve ever wondered: “am I in an unsafe situation?”

Missed yesterday’s post. That broke the 41-day run. Also missed both rowing sessions, which happens more often. My writing quality went down so it was good to have the day off. In this week’s column about main exercise, some about diet, and hinting at general healthy lifestyles, let’s talk about how exercise is in a sense like exorcising those stress demons that can lead to missing days, lacking self confidence, and how to conquer them.

“You’re still here?” People will get under your skin no matter what you do, or how many barriers you put up. They’ll try to find a way to break you down to your core. To manipulate you. They’ll try to break into your mind palace to destroy it. That’s unless you know yourself and have removed false elements of your personality that you can’t completely own. The insecure bits that might leave you feeling vulnerable.

Life’s about change. We forget our sleeping dreams to pursue the dreams we can live. Change is hard. We don’t want to say goodbye to friends or tear down our good work. It’d be painful before to take down elaborate sets, now it’s not callousness, it’s looking forward to better setups. We’ll make new friends and can rekindle old, so while we can’t return to right now, we can steer change toward building better moments!

Conflicts typically suck. They do make for interesting topics to talk about so long as we don’t pull anyone under while fighting off those demons. In this week’s brainstorming update to TheStory, we’ll cover some of the formative conflicts the main characters John (sword) and Trishna (spear) encountered before the main events of the narrative and cover future plot points. As always, ideas are subject to change once the formal writing begins; no ETA.

Vendors at Renton City Retro told me about Seattle’s hidden collecting secret for the last twenty-two* years: Lake CityToy Show. Unlike the more mainstream retro show that had videogames, action figures, and other fun activities, this was where you’d find anything more obscure. Cool for serious collectors. How about for everyone else? If you were in the area for the car show, or happened through town in the early afternoon, was there anything worthwhile?

We typically base ourselves on one main variable. It’s easier to say, “I’m a X,” where X is a professional, recreational, or familial role you play because it’s cumbersome to say, “Z, O, M, B, I, E, P, A, PE, and R equals me!” We’ll forget about those variables when stress hits us. It’s like putting all your eggs in one “identity basket.” When that basket or one variable falters, everything crashes. Don’t let it!